Drink mixer



-R. B. GILCHRIST DRINK MIXER I Filed Makch 20, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Au 21,1923.

UNITED STATES 1,465,634 PATENT OFFICE...

RAYMOND B. GILGHRIST, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE GILC H RIST COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DRINK MIXER.

Application filed March 20, 1922. Serial No. 545,004.

To. all whom it m (13 concern Be it known that I, RAYMOND B. GIL- CHRIST, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drink Mixers, of which the following is' a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates toxlrink mixers.

In machines for this purpose, the liquid constituents of the drink to be mixed are usually poured into a receptacle which is generally designated a shaker, from many diflerent containers disposed away from the mixer. Thereceptacle with these constituents therein is brought to the mixer and placed in operative relation thereto and is removed from the machine after each inixingoperation, to discharge its contents. This is rendered necessary, because so many different ingredients and flavors are used in making drinks that they are, in nearly all cases, mixed individually. It is usually necessary to run the agitator for a. considerable period to properly blend or mix the constituents and, therefore, it is desirable that provision be made for retaining the receptacle and agitator in operative relation to permit the dispenser to perform other duties during the mixing operation. In drink mixing, it thus becomes necessary to frequently place the receptacle containing the constituents into cooperative relation to the agitator and to withdraw it from the machine to discharge its contents and cleanse the receptacle between mixing operations.

A desideratum in this art is to expedite and simplify the operations necessary to bring the receptacle and-agitator into cooprelation, in starting and stopping of the m0- tor and the removal of the receptacle. Heretofore, in machines in the patented art where of I am aware, it has been necessary in their use to manually manipulate the'receptacle into operative position and withdraw it therefrom and to additionally perform some distinctly separate step or operation, such as lowering the motor and agitator together, orshift the agitator and its shaft into the receptacle and relatively to the motor, or raising and looking a receptacle-support to establish and maintain cooperative relation of the receptacle and agitator or to control the operation of the machine. Another deerative relatior to maintain them in such sideratum in this art is to simplify the machine by dispensing with movable connections in and for the drivingme'chanism for the agitator.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved drink mixer in which these additional operations or steps are dispensed with and in which manual shift of the receptacle is utilized to completely control the operation of the machine and to secure it and the agitator in cooperativerelation. Bv. dispensing with the necessity of these additional steps or operations, the time of the dispenser in performing them is saved and the service is improved.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a receptacle controlle machine which is equipped so that the receptacle can be manipulated to control its looking into operative posit-ion around the agitator, its release for withdrawal, and the starting and stopping of the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which is simple in const-ruc-' tion, which may be easily and readily operated and which is efficient in operation.

Other objects of the invention-will more' fully appear from the following description.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a machine embodying the invention, parts being shown in elevation, the recep- -tacle containing material to be mixed being shown in operative relation to the agitator. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the slidable reoeptacle holder. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, showing the receptacle removed. Fig. 4 1s a detail of a portion of the guideway for the holder. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 -5 of Fig. l.

Theinvention is exemplified in a machine comprising an electric motor 8 Which is supported at the upper end of astandard 9. The latter serves as a stationary support for the motor and its lower end is rigidly secured to a base 10 which is adapted to rest 100 on a counter or table. A shaft 11 secured to the rotor of the motor projects doWn-. wardlv fromthe motor-case and is provided at its lower end with a suitable agitator 12 for mixing the constituents of a drink, as well understood in the art. Shaft 11 is of sufficient length so that the agitator may reach into the constituents of a drink to be mixed near the bottom -of an open-topped are notvaried and the receptacle and its contents only are manipulated in establishing cooperative relationship between the re-- ceptacle and the agitator, so that movement of the agitator or the agitator and the m0- tor are not necessary for this purpose. The case of the motor 8 is rigidly secured, as by screws 13, to lugs 14 which are rigid with the upper end of the standard. A case 1:), containingan electrical switch of usual construction and having its members connected to control the motor 8, is fixedly sccured to the outside of the motor-casing. A spring-pressed button 16 operates the switch in the case 15 to close the circuit for causing the motor 8 to run when and while the button is pushed upwardly and to open said circuit to stop the motor when the button is released. The switch-members in the case 1:) may be'of standard construction, as well understood in the art, so that detailed illustration has not been deemed necessary. Yielding contact-strips 16, adapted toenter a switch-socket of usual construction,- project rearwardly from the case 15, so that the necessary electrical connections to supply current to themotor will be made by pushing an ordinary conductor-socket, which is adapted to receive said contact-strips and connected by a flexible cord-conductor to a suitable source of energy, into connected relation with said strips.

In the present invention, a holder, in

I which the receptacle is locked, is vertically slidable on the supporting standard and comprises an upright 13 which is provided at its upper end with a member or arm 14 which extends through a vertical slot 17 in the said standard, and is provided with lat-' erally projecting lugs 17 to engage the front and rear faces of guide-ribs or rails 18 forming the sides of slot 17; a hook or abutment 20 adapted to extend over the rim of the receptacle and engage the-inner periphery of the upper portion thereof to secure the receptacle against lateral movement relatively to the holder; a member or arm 24 projecting rearwardly through slot 17 and provided with laterally projecting lugs 17 to engage the front and rearfaces of the tracks 9 and slidably guide the lower portion of the receptacle-holder; and a bottomsupport 22- for the receptacle which is pivot ed to the holder, at 23, and is pressed by a spring 25 into position to engage the bottom 'of'the receptacle 19 and press it upwardly toward hook 20. latch 26 is pivoted, at

27, to lower arm 24 and is adapted to engage the rear end of arm 28 on support 22 V holder may be controlled and raised and lowered by manipulation of the receptacle itself. Support 22 has upstanding lugs 29 to positively prevent forward displacement of the receptacle while the support is locked. A *hook 30, extending upwardly from the upper arm 14 and rigid thereon, isadapted to engage a lug 31 on the standard 9 at the upper end of the guide-slot 17. The ribs or rails 18 are notched at 32 to permit a sufficient fore-and-aft movement of the up.- per portion of the holder to effect engagement and disengagement of hooks 30, 31 which. are disposed to lock the holder "in raised position when the receptacle is in operative relation to the agitator. Latch 26. is, automatically released while the holderis,

approaching and is held released. while it is in its lowermost position by a cam-lug 3 L which is provided on the base of the stand- Md 9. This lug also serves to strike the arm 2-8 to positively tilt the front of support 22 downwardly as soon as it is released by latch 26 in the descent of the holder'and to hold the support in such position against the force of a spring'25 which is only of sufficient force to tilt the support 22 into po- .sition to be locked. As the holder is raised,

the cam-surface on the lug 34 will permit 6 the latch to swing into its operative position by gravity and arm 28 to be moved by spring 25 until support 22 is locked in its operative position. This occurs during the initial vertical movement of the holder by the receptacle. An elastic cushion or buffer :70 is provided in the hook 20 which is engaged by the receptacle to prevent mutilation or wear of the receptacle-rim. v The structure comprising the upper holding hook, the bottom-support when it is locked and the standard between them forms a carrier in which the receptacle is locked and T which is adapted to be positively raised and Y lowered thereby.

A lever 35 is pivoted to the standard 9 at 36, is provided at its upper end with a camsurface 37 to engage the switch-button 16 to close the switch for controlling the motor 8,

is normally pulled forwardly by a spring 39,

and has a cam 40 in the path of, and adapted to be operated by, an abutment 41 on the holder member 14 to cause the lever to be shifted to close said switch during the upward movement of'the receptacle and holder and to control the retraction of the lever by spring 39 so the switch will be opened to stop the motor during the lowering movement of the receptacle and holder. A notch 42 is formed in the lever 35 so that the fore and aft locking and releasing movement of the upper portion of the carrier will not cause the lever 35 to change the position of the switch, it being preferable, in many in stances, to cause the agitator to commence to rotate before it passes into the material in the receptacle and to cause it to continue its rotation to cleanse itselfi by centrifugal force before it passes out of the receptacle.

In practice, it is desirable to adapt a machine for receptacles of difi'erent heights and to provide for locking them to the holder. For this purpose, the hook-member 20 is adjustably connected to the upright 13" by screws 45 which extend through elongated slots46 in the upright and permit the member to be raised or lowered so that it will 'be properly spaced from the bottom support 22 for securely holding vessels of different heights.

' The operation ofthe machine will be as follows: Normally, the carrier will be in lowered position shown in Fig 2. The operator, grasping the receptacle, will place it under hook 20 so that the upper margin of the receptacle will be locked to the carrier and will swing its lower portion'backwardly towards the standard 13 and then raise the receptacle vertically until it reaches the operative position shown in Fig. 1. During the initial lifting movement of the holder, bottom support 22 will be released by lug 34 and latch 26 will also be released to permit it to interlock with arm 28 of the bottom support 22 so that shortly after the liftingmovement f the receptacle has commenced, said support 22 will be locked to lock the receptacle .in the holder. Thereafter, the manual shift of the receptacle will continue to move the holder until the hook 30 slips over hook 31 on the standard. ,Thereupon, the holder, with the receptacle therein, will be locked against downward movement.

.Lever 35, engaging abutment 41, aids in pressing the hook 30 into locked position with lug 31 through the influence of spring 39, and also aids in retaining the hook in such position.- During the upward movement of the receptacle and holder, lug 41 will shift switch-lever 35 to operate switchbutton 16 t close the switch and cause themotor 8 to rotate the agitator 12. The lever will remain in such position as long as the holder remains locked in its upper position, so that the motor will continue to operate the agitator 12 When the mixing opera tion has been completed, the operator will grasp the receptacle 19 and press it baclb.

war-11y sufliciently to cause the hook 30 to clear the hook or lug 31 and then lower the receptacle. The holder, being locked thereto, will be lowered with it. When the abutment 34 strikes the latch 26, it will release the bottom-support 22 and cause it to be inclined forwardly and downwardly into posi- 'tion shown in Fig. 2, so that the receptacle -may be disengaged from the hook 20 and withdrawn forwardly. During the lowers 'ing of the holder and receptacle, abutment 41 will pass oil cam 40 on lever 35, so that spring 39 will retract lever into position to release the switch-button 16 and open the switch to stop the motor 8.

The invention exemplifies a mixing machine, the operation of which is completely controlled by manipulation of the receptacle itself so that it is not necessary to manipw late other parts, such as the agitator, in bringing the agitator and receptacle in cooperative relation; in which the receptacle is automatically locked to a vertically movable holder, so that the locking and releas inp; of the holder may be controlled by manipulating the receptacle; in "which a movable bottom support for the receptacle, which is movable by the receptacle itself, is

automatically released from and locked to.

the holder to permit it to-tilt and release the rece tacle; in which the receptacle is positive y held vertically between upper and lower supports or holding devices; in which provision is made for securing receptacles of different sizes in the holder"; and in which the desiderata aforesaid are attained.

port for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with sufficient clearance to pernut a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in said position, upper and lower members for holding the receptacle shiftable by the manual manipulation of the receptacle itself to bring them into position to automatically hold the receptacle in its opera tive position, and means to adjust one of the members vertically relatively to the other to adapt them for holding receptacles of dilierent heights in operative position.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an' agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in said position, an upper holder adapted to extend into the receptacle, a bottom support for the receptacle, and an adfor hold- 3. In a machine of the character de", scribed, the combination of the motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with suflicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in said position, upper and lower members for holding the receptacle shiftable by the manual manipulation of the receptacle itself to bring them 'into position to automatically hold the receptacle in its operativeosition, a connection between said members or causing them to move together, and means to adjust one of the members relatively to the other to adapt them for hold- I tive position.

ing receptacles of different heights in opera- 4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, a slip port for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter. is

in operative position, upper and lower members for holding the receptacle, and means to adjust one of the members relatively to the other to adapt them for holding receptacles of different heights in operative posi tion, said members being adapted to lock a receptacle by manual manipulation of the receptacle.

'5; In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with suflicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in operative position, upper and lower members for holding the receptacle, an

adjustable connection between said members to adapt them for holding receptacles of different heights, said members being adapted to lock a receptacle by manual mani ulation of the receptacle.

6. n a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, a su port for the motor, an agitator driven by t e motor and supported from above, with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative posi tion around the agitator whilethe latter is in operative position, upper and lower members for holding the receptacle. a connection between said members to cause them to 7 heights in operative position, said members being adapted to look a receptacle by manual manipulation of the receptacle.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported fromabove with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the a itator while the latter is in operative position, a holder member adaptedtobe engaged by the upper rim of a receptacle, a buffer for the receptacle, and means cooperating with said member to secure the receptacle in operative position around the agitator.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination'of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the. motor and supported from above with sufficientclearance to permit a receptacle with an open to to be place into operative position aroun the agitator while the latter is in operative position, a holder member adapted to be engaged by the upper rim-of a receptacle, a buffer for the receptacle, and means cooperating with said member to secure the receptacle in o erative position around the agitator, said member being operable by the receptacle.

' 9. In a machine of the character described, the combinationof a motor, a support forthe motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around theagitator while the'latter is in operative position, a vertically movable carrier for the receptacle, an upper holder on the carrier adapted to extend into the receptacle, a bottom support supported by and on the carrier saidholder, support and carrier being shiftable by 'manual manipulation of the receptacle itself to bring them into position to automatically hold the receptacle in said operative position, and means for automatically locking the carrier.

10. In a machine of the character de-- by and on the carrier, and means for auto matically locking the carrier, said carrier being operable into operative position by the receptacle while it is being manually raised.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination'of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motorv and supported from above with suffi- .cient clearance to permit] a receptacle with an-open top to be placed 'intooperative .position around the agitatorwhilethe latter is in operative position, a vertically movable carrier for the receptacle, an upper holder on the carrier adapted to extend intothe receptacle a bottom support supported by and movably connected to the carrier, and means, for automatically locking the carrier.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with suflicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top .to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in operative position, a vertically movable carrier for the receptacle, an upper holder on the carrier adapted to extend into the receptacle, a bottom support supported by and movably connected. to the carrier,

and means for automatically lockinglthe carrier, said carrier being operable upwardly into operative position by the manual shift of the carrier.

13. In a machine of the character de-" scribed, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with suflicient clearance to permit a receptacle holder member on the carrier adapted to ex tend into the receptacle, a bottom-support supported by and pivoted to the carrier, and meansfor automatically locking the carrier.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the .motor and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in operative position, a vertically movable carrier for the receptacle, an upper holder member on the carrier adapted to extend into the receptacle, a bottom-support supported by and pivoted to the carrier, and

means for automatically locking the carrier, the latter being operable upwardly by the receptacle into operative position,

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven-by the motor and supported from above with suliicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in operative position, a. vertically movable tilting the bottom support when the carrier islowered.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the "agitator while the latter is in operative position, a'vertically movable carrier for the receptacle, an upper holder on the carrier adapted to extend into the receptacle, a bottom support supported by and movably connected to the carrier, means for automatically locking the bottom support to the carrier, so it will move vertically therewith, and means for automatically tilting the bottom support when the carrier is raised and lowered, said carrier being operable upwardly b the receptacle.

17. In'a mac ine of the character described, the combination of amotor, a support for the motor, an agitator driven by the motor and supported from above with sufiicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed .into operative position around the agitator while the latter is in operative position, a vertically movable carrier for the receptacle, an upper holder member on the carrier adapted to extend into the receptacle, a bottom support supported by and movably connected to the carrier, means for automatically looking the carrier in raised position, means for automatically locking the bottom support to the carrier, and means for automatically tilting the bottom support when the carrier is lowered.

Signed at Newark, N. J., this 11th day of'Februar 1922.

' I lAYMQND B. GILCHRIST. 

